Arts reach almost all children, DCMS report finds

The latest DCMS Taking Part survey has revealed small increases in cultural engagement by children and young people.

Almost all children aged 5 to 15 (99%) engaged with the arts last year, with 92% having engaged in the last week – a significant increase on the 2008/09 figure of 86%. According to the Taking Part 2013/14 Annual Child Report, published by the DCMS, more than two-thirds (68%) had visited a heritage site in the past 12 months, a significant increase on the 2008/9 figure. But only 62% had visited a museum or gallery, showing no increase over the past five years.

There was no difference in the proportion of boys and girls aged 11 to 15 who participated in some form of arts activity, but significant gender differences were again identified for specific art forms. For all cultural activities other than those which were computer- and radio-based, more girls were engaged than boys, the largest difference being in dance, where 57% of girls had taken part but only 19% of boys.